HL Deb 14 January 2002 vol 630 cc142-3WA
Earl Howe

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the answer by Lord Hunt of Kings Heath on 6 December (HL Deb, col. 939), how many patients were waiting over 26 weeks for a first outpatient appointment in March 1997; and how many patients are waiting now. [HL2138]

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath

I regret that the reply I gave on 6 December at col. 939 ofHansard was incorrect.

At the end of September 2001 (the most recent data available), the number of patients waiting over 26 weeks for a first outpatient appointment was 92,821. In March 1997 the number of patients waiting was 70,689.